M&A: Page 4

  • An image of a white building with red stripes and KFC branding.
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    Moses Robinson via Getty Images
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    Yum completes exit of Russia with sale of KFC units

    The sale to local operator Smart Service includes all 1,112 Russian KFC units and the trademark for the Rostik’s brand, which KFC bought in 2011. 

    By • April 18, 2023
  • A picture of the leadership of Port of Subs.
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    Courtesy of Port of Subs
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    Port of Subs acquired by private equity firm

    Area 15 Ventures looks to grow franchise sales in its portfolio, which includes Daddy’s Chicken Shack alongside Port of Subs, by 140% in 18 months.

    By • April 4, 2023
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    Violeta Stoimenova via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Restaurant Financing

    With ongoing macroeconomic pressures facing restaurants, operators are entering into alternative financing, mergers and acquisitions and even bankruptcy to sustain their businesses. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • An image of menu items from I Love Juice Bar
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    Retrieved from I Love Juice Bar on March 28, 2023
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    Main Squeeze Juice Co. acquires I Love Juice Bar

    The deal will almost double Main Squeeze’s unit count of 28 stores and give it a strong presence in Texas and Tennessee. 

    By • March 28, 2023
  • A photograph of menu items from Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
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    Courtesy of Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
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    Firebirds Wood Fired Grill acquired by private equity firm

    Garnett Station Partners bought the polished-casual chain, which has 56 locations in 20 states, with plans to help it accelerate growth. 

    By • March 27, 2023
  • drive thru painted on street for directions
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    booker5m via Getty Images
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    Toast buys Delphi Display Systems adding to QSR product suite

    Delphi offers digital display and drive-thru technology designed for QSRs and comes a year after Toast bought Sling to enhance employee scheduling. 

    By • Feb. 16, 2023
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    Sitthiphong via Getty Images
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    How Chowly’s Koala buy will broaden online ordering access for SMBs

    With Koala’s enterprise-level digital ordering capabilities, Chowly will be able to offer a user-facing tool for its small and mid-size restaurant clients. 

    By • Feb. 2, 2023
  • A person navigates Chowly's app on their cell phone
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    Permission granted by Chowly
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    Chowly makes first acquisition with Koala buy

    The purchase adds machine learning capabilities to Chowly’s platform, allowing it to give recommendations to restaurants to increase digital basket sizes.

    By • Feb. 1, 2023
  • Subway's reimagined interiors put in place in 2021 as part of its Eat Fresh Refresh.
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    Permission granted by Subway
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    Subway reportedly mulling $10B sale

    This price tag would near Inspire’s mammoth $11.4 billion purchase of Dunkin’ in 2020, but it may be difficult to find a restaurant or private equity buyer in uncertain economic times. 

    By • Updated Jan. 12, 2023
  • An image of a building with Fuzzy's Taco Shop logo.
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    Courtesy of Dine Brands
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    The 10 biggest restaurant deals of 2022

    Expensive capital and inflationary pressure slowed M&A last year, with both private equity firms and restaurant groups pausing their acquisition goals. 

    By • Jan. 3, 2023
  • Main Event Entertainment location
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    Permission granted by Main Event
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    Distressed deals, QSR buys may drive 2023 restaurant M&A

    Buyers are attracted to models with strong off-premise sales that require lower building expenses and fewer employees, experts said.

    By • Jan. 3, 2023
  • A picture of a Chipotle with a pickup lane.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle targets Gen Z with wellness Snapchat Lens, menu items

    To address how Gen Z and millennials approach wellness, the chain is focused on convenience and mobile gamification.

    By Aaron Baar • Jan. 3, 2023
  • Inspire Brands Alliance Kitchen
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    Permission granted by Inspire Brands
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    Inspire sells Rusty Taco to Gala Capital Partners

    The restaurant, which has grown its footprint 50% since Inspire acquired it in 2018, will retain its current management team. 

    By • Updated Dec. 21, 2022
  • A promotional image for Freshii's coffee beverages.
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    Courtesy of Freshii
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    Freshii sells to Foodtastic for $54.5M

    Cash-strapped Freshii, which operates 37 U.S. locations out of 330-plus North American stores, marks Foodtastic’s second restaurant buy this month. 

    By • Dec. 19, 2022
  • An image of a building with Fuzzy's Taco Shop logo.
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    Courtesy of Dine Brands
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    Dine Brands to buy Fuzzy’s Taco Shop for $80M

    The acquisition is the first for Dine Brands since it was founded in 2007, and adds a third restaurant to its portfolio. 

    By • Dec. 5, 2022
  • An image of a Wetzel's Pretzels inside a Macy's.
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    Retrieved from Wetzel's Pretzels on November 02, 2022
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    MTY Food Group buys Wetzel’s Pretzels for $207M

    The purchase of the pretzel chain, which aims to reach 400 units by 2023, follows MTY’s acquisition of BBQ Holdings in September.

    By • Nov. 2, 2022
  • First Watch restaurant
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    Permission granted by First Watch
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    First Watch launches a secondary IPO

    The move comes weeks after Portillo’s announced a secondary offering, and may signal increasing confidence in the market after a slow IPO year.

    By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 14, 2022
  • Famous Dave's in Chantilly, Virgnia taken by Julie Littman of Restaurant Dive
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    BBQ Holdings to be acquired by MTY Food Group for $200M

    The transaction will add nine brands to the Canada-based company and allow it to further expand its U.S. portfolio, which also includes Papa Murphy’s. 

    By • Aug. 9, 2022
  • QDOBA Burrito
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    Courtesy of QDOBA
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    Butterfly Equity to buy Qdoba, fold it into Modern Restaurant Concepts

    With the addition of the Mexican fast casual chain, Modern Restaurant Concepts expects growth potential to reach 3,000 units across brands. 

    By • Aug. 9, 2022
  • 7-Eleven launches 7Now Gold Pass.
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    7-Eleven reportedly acquires delivery startup, intends to compete with DoorDash

    The c-store giant bought Skipcart, which provides same-day and on-demand delivery, according to The Information. 

    By Brett Dworski • Aug. 8, 2022
  • Bellagreen
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    Courtesy of Ampex Brands
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    Ampex Brands acquires American bistro concept Bellagreen

    The franchise group plans to introduce the eight-unit chain in every major metro area, Ampex CEO Tabbassum Mumtaz said.

    By Alicia Kelso • July 25, 2022
  • An image of a roundabout with a fountain outside a beige building with a sign that says Keke's Breakfast Cafe
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    Permission granted by Denny's
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    Denny's completes $82.5M acquisition of Keke's Breakfast Cafe

    The breakfast chain, which has 52 locations in Florida, is expected to provide expansion opportunities as a complementary concept for Denny’s.

    By • July 21, 2022
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    Permission granted by Grubhub
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    Grubhub, Amazon partner to expand Grubhub+ membership

    Amazon will be given warrants worth 2% in Grubhub shares, and access to additional shares if it brings more customers to Grubhub.

    By • July 6, 2022
  • Panera Bread storefront
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    Permission granted by Panera Bread
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    Panera terminates agreement with Danny Meyer's SPAC

    Due to unfavorable capital market conditions, Panera Brands and USHG Acquisition Corp. ended their relationship Friday. Panera said it will continue to explore a public listing if conditions improve.

    By • July 1, 2022
  • A Grubhub courier. Grubhub and Sonesta will offer delivery to 120 extended stay hotels.
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    The image by Elvert Barnes is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Grubhub CEO: A strong partnership is preferred as company mulls future

    Just Eat Takeaway is focused on improving its U.S. business, but a sale isn’t off the table, Grubhub CEO Adam DeWitt said at the Wall Street Journal’s Global Food Forum.

    By • Updated June 29, 2022
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    Chicken Salad Chick
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    Chicken Salad Chick inks franchise deals as it targets 500 units by 2025

    The fast casual chain signed two agreements that will bring 16 more locations to Texas, with plans to open about 50 restaurants nationwide this year. 

    By • June 22, 2022